Retail establishments always get way ahead of us with their advertising and displays. Back in the early 1990s I used to enjoy taking my small daughter to the local expensive department store right after Labor Day. They had a very small room set up with exquisite ornaments. I asked about that, why so early, and was told that a lot of the people who bought stuff this early were mailing, and others were professional designers who where planning their annual displays. By now, with everything on the Internet, I'm sure that has changed, but out of curiosity I think I'll head over and see if they have anything set up in anticipation of the season.

Holiday decorating is going to be a challenge this year--we now have a dog. A great big puppy who chews everything. When I was a kid we had a German Shorthair Pointer who used to eat the bottom ornaments off of the tree (so we made sure they were all plastic, not glass). In this house we make sure they're plastic so the cats don't swat them off and break them. Something tells me this year we'd do well to suspend the tree from the ceiling. :)

Looking forward to exploring these possibilities in the Mudcat Tavern later in the year.

Meanwhile, here are a couple of other Secret Santa threads to check out: As soon as people receive the name of the party to whom they will send a gift (hereafter called "Santee") and have their gifts selected and in the mail, the temptation to tease that party with hints is overwhelming. So a thread like SECSY Silly Secret Santa/Santee Hints (2004) comes into existence. As boxes arrived people posted to My Secret Santa present has arrived! (2004)